A/N: sorry if this chapter is so short, but my holidays are now over and I'm back to my studies.
Chapter Ten which will tell Noah's story will be updated soon.
CHAPTER NINE
Later that afternoon, Max spotted two kids hassling the homeless man near the school. He frowned and went over to help.
" Hey leave him along you brats!" he shouted and they turned to look at him.
" Buzz off." The blond kid replied sassily and turned back to the street bum,
" C'mon man, you gotta have some money."
" I told you, I don't have any." The homeless man was wearing a blue beanie that was pulled low over his forehead, dirty ripped jeans and a grubby red jumper. His face was white and had a goatee. For some reason, this street bum looked strangely familiar…
" Then where'd you get the booze?" the second kid asked him, pointing at an empty bottle of beer in the man's hand.
" Someone gave it to me." The man mumbled, " Now leave me alone. I ain't done nothing to you!"
" Make us." The blond kid answered and shoved at the man. The man stumbled and fell to the ground. The kids laughed and began kicking at him.
Max decided to get aggressive himself-with the kids that is.
" Lay off him!" Max warned, grabbing the blond kid by the arm and hauling him to his feet, " The guy's done nothing to you-why are you punching him up?"
The blond kid shrugged out of Max's grip, " He's a no good bum that's why! He deserves it!"
" No one deserves to be punished for their misfortunes. Now you and your mate get lost before I call the cops." Max threatened.
" He's not worth it anyway." The second kid commented, "C'mon Smith, let's get out of here." The blond kid and his friend ran off.
Max frowned after them. Smith-the blond kid's last name was Smith. Could he be related to Nick Smith? Perhaps the blond kid was Nick's other son.
If so, I'll have a talk with Nick. Max decided, that kid needs some serious discipline.
" Hey man, you okay?" Max asked the homeless man.
" Yeah…why do they always do that? Pick on someone helpless than they are?" the man asked him, his eyes looked angry.
" I don't know…but I think I know the kid's father. I'll have a talk with him."
" Don't bother…it'll just make things worse." The man objected and stroked his goatee.
When Max realised who this homeless man was, he was struck dumb. This helpless, homeless man was Noah Lawson!
" Noah? I can't believe it's you."
Noah blinked, " Do I know you?"
" Sure-Max Sutherland. I used to live with my uncle a few years back?"
" Max?" Noah stared at the younger man, " Wow man, you've changed."
" I should be saying the same thing about you. What happened? Why are you homeless?"
Noah sighed, " It's a long story Max."
" I have time to hear about it. Let's go to the diner-I mean café-and I'll shout you lunch."
" I'm not allowed in the café." Noah said, " Josh banned me from the café a few years ago."
" Just 'cause you're homeless? I never liked Josh West." Max remarked shaking his head.
" Ever since it's been abandoned, the drop in centre has been my home so I'm not exactly homeless." Noah frowned, " but the council is getting ready to knock it down in about three weeks so I have to find a new home before then."
" Alright, let's go to the drop-in centre and you can tell me your story."
Chapter Ten which will tell Noah's story will be updated soon.
CHAPTER NINE
Later that afternoon, Max spotted two kids hassling the homeless man near the school. He frowned and went over to help.
" Hey leave him along you brats!" he shouted and they turned to look at him.
" Buzz off." The blond kid replied sassily and turned back to the street bum,
" C'mon man, you gotta have some money."
" I told you, I don't have any." The homeless man was wearing a blue beanie that was pulled low over his forehead, dirty ripped jeans and a grubby red jumper. His face was white and had a goatee. For some reason, this street bum looked strangely familiar…
" Then where'd you get the booze?" the second kid asked him, pointing at an empty bottle of beer in the man's hand.
" Someone gave it to me." The man mumbled, " Now leave me alone. I ain't done nothing to you!"
" Make us." The blond kid answered and shoved at the man. The man stumbled and fell to the ground. The kids laughed and began kicking at him.
Max decided to get aggressive himself-with the kids that is.
" Lay off him!" Max warned, grabbing the blond kid by the arm and hauling him to his feet, " The guy's done nothing to you-why are you punching him up?"
The blond kid shrugged out of Max's grip, " He's a no good bum that's why! He deserves it!"
" No one deserves to be punished for their misfortunes. Now you and your mate get lost before I call the cops." Max threatened.
" He's not worth it anyway." The second kid commented, "C'mon Smith, let's get out of here." The blond kid and his friend ran off.
Max frowned after them. Smith-the blond kid's last name was Smith. Could he be related to Nick Smith? Perhaps the blond kid was Nick's other son.
If so, I'll have a talk with Nick. Max decided, that kid needs some serious discipline.
" Hey man, you okay?" Max asked the homeless man.
" Yeah…why do they always do that? Pick on someone helpless than they are?" the man asked him, his eyes looked angry.
" I don't know…but I think I know the kid's father. I'll have a talk with him."
" Don't bother…it'll just make things worse." The man objected and stroked his goatee.
When Max realised who this homeless man was, he was struck dumb. This helpless, homeless man was Noah Lawson!
" Noah? I can't believe it's you."
Noah blinked, " Do I know you?"
" Sure-Max Sutherland. I used to live with my uncle a few years back?"
" Max?" Noah stared at the younger man, " Wow man, you've changed."
" I should be saying the same thing about you. What happened? Why are you homeless?"
Noah sighed, " It's a long story Max."
" I have time to hear about it. Let's go to the diner-I mean café-and I'll shout you lunch."
" I'm not allowed in the café." Noah said, " Josh banned me from the café a few years ago."
" Just 'cause you're homeless? I never liked Josh West." Max remarked shaking his head.
" Ever since it's been abandoned, the drop in centre has been my home so I'm not exactly homeless." Noah frowned, " but the council is getting ready to knock it down in about three weeks so I have to find a new home before then."
" Alright, let's go to the drop-in centre and you can tell me your story."